Wilson County sheriff’s deputies are warning residents of a phone scam purporting to seek donations for the sheriff’s office.

Employees of a Wilson County business told deputies they received a call Monday from a woman who identified herself as Melissa and claimed to be working for the sheriff’s office. The woman asked for a donation to help the sheriff’s office print brochures to educate children about illegal drugs.

Deputies say the scammer told employees that a company called MMA Group was printing the brochures and said that the business had made a donation for the brochures last year, which it had not.

"The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office does not solicit donations over the telephone,” Chief of Staff Wanda Samuel said in a statement. "We want to inform our citizens not to give out their personal information or banking information to unknown solicitors over the telephone. We encourage citizens to call the sheriff’s office for verification if they are unsure or just need answers regarding solicitors.”

Residents who receive phone calls that they believe to be fraudulent can call the sheriff’s office at 237-2118.